She was born to swim: Norfolk woman is Top 10 USMS master

Monday

Aug 27, 2012 at 12:01 AMAug 27, 2012 at 9:13 AM

Saying that Patricia Saint Aubin is part mermaid may not be too far from the truth. Water is as natural to her as land. She began swimming as a child, began formal lessons at age 5 and was a competitive swimmer by age 6. Now, at 54, she is still at it, practicing swimming at least six days a week on her own, swimming an additional two or three sessions with a Masters team, and competing as a top swimmer in her age bracket.

Heather McCarron/STAFF WRITER

Saying that Patricia Saint Aubin is part mermaid may not be too far from the truth. Water is as natural to her as land.

She began swimming as a child, began formal lessons at age 5 and was a competitive swimmer by age 6.

Now, at 54, she is still at it, practicing swimming at least six days a week on her own, swimming an additional two or three sessions with a Masters team, and competing as a top swimmer in her age bracket.

For the past eight years, she has been a United States Masters Swimmer (USMS).

“I swim roughly 20,000 yards per week, either on my own or with the Masters team at the Hockomock YMCA,” says Saint Aubin, who lives with her husband in Norfolk.

This spring, she took part in a USMS Nationals meet in two events. She swam the 1,650 freestyle (yards) in 22:58.58 (minutes), taking eighth place. In the 200 yard backstroke event her time was 2:55.18.

“This was my fastest time in competition for this event, so I was excited with this time,” she says, noting it put her in 9th place in her age bracket.

Masters swimming is bracketed into five-year age brackets and separated by gender. This year Saint Aubin swam in the female 50-54 age bracket.

“To be the oldest in one’s age bracket and still be in the Top 10 is an accomplishment,” says a proud Saint Aubin. “As you age the younger swimmers have the advantage.”

Saint Aubin grew up in South Dartmouth, not too far from the water, so she has been around water since before she could walk.

“My mother felt it was important for me and my siblings to learn how to swim. So at age 5, as she did with my sister and brother, she signed me up in the ‘beginners’ swim program at the Y.W.C.A. in New Bedford,” Saint Aubin recalls. “Within a year’s time my ability was apparent to the head coach, Trixie Whalen, and she moved me through various lessons so to be in advanced competitive by 6.”

At the Y.W.C.A she remained under Whalen’s guidance for the next 11 years.

“She would develop my natural inclination to swim. By 6, I was competitive locally, and shortly thereafter I was registered with the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), which allowed me to compete on a larger regional scale,” says Saint Aubin. “The AAU was established in 1888 as the official organization of all amateur sports in the United States. In 1978 this organization allowed specific sports to break off to support their own events, rules, and competitions. Thus the AAU, which oversaw swimming, became what we know today as United States Swimming (USS).”

As a side note, Saint Aubin points out, Whalen herself was a former Olympic swimmer for Great Britain in the 1930s or early 1940s.

“She married an American serviceman after World War II, who brought her home to New Bedford. I can still hear her booming my name ‘Patricia’ with her British accent when she wanted me to move faster,” Saint Aubin reminisces.

Saint Aubin swam competitively through high school, but took a break when she attended Providence College, which did not build their competitive pool until the summer of her graduation in 1980.

In her early 20s, Saint Aubin began swimming again recreationally while working in the financial district in Boston. Then, eight years ago, took up competing again.

“I have competed every year since becoming a USMS, primarily at the New England Masters Championships at Harvard each March,” she says.

In 2010 and 2012 she competed at Spring Nationals after qualifying.

“In order to make it to Nationals you must first qualify via a sanctioned meet such as the New England Masters Championships. Once you have a qualifying time you can then go on to Nationals,” she explains. “Many swim at these sanctioned meets but not everyone qualifies to go to Nationals.”

In 2010 she placed 5th in the 1,650 yards (the mile) and in 2012 she placed 8th in the 1,650 and 9th in the 200 yard backstroke.

“One hopes to be in the Top 10 at US Masters Swimming Nationals,” she says.

The 2010 Spring National competition was in the 1996 Olympic pool in Atlanta and the 2012 was at the brand new Greensboro, North Carolina Aquatic Center.

Saint Aubin says she was most inspired by Whalen, “a great encourager of my swimming talents” who developed her competitive side, as well as both her parents.

“My mother at 88 still is quite enthused by my competing. My father was a semi-pro baseball player, pitching for both the Boston Red Sox farm league and in the Marine Corps during World War II. He is probably who I inherited my athleticism and competitive drive,” she says.

When she prepares for meets, Saint Aubin not only gets in a lot of swimming practice, but also does cross-training.

“I will pick up by riding the stationary bike and work with weights for my arms and shoulders a few months before a major competition,” she says. “Otherwise, it’s working out with the masters team at the Y to keep up my stamina.”

She says she is very pleased with her accomplishments at US Masters Swimming Nationals both in 2010 and 2012.

“I almost did not go to Nationals this year due to family constraints, but the five points I got for New England Masters with my two top 10 swims helped place our team 4th in our size in the nation and the women’s team was second overall in the nation, a position we won by .50 of a point,” Saint Aubin notes. “I am proud I attended and did well. My points counted!”

“I am also proud that my swimming allows me to participate in the Swim Across America one mile swim at Nanatsket Beach every year,” she adds.

Swim Across America is a national swim event, started by former Olympic swimmers to support a local cancer facility.

“Swims occur wherever there is water. The Boston and Nantasket Swim generate donations for Dana Farber,” she says. “This year I raised over $4,000 for Dana Farber from my swim on July 14. This is my 5th swim where I have close to $20,000 for Dana Farber.”

Swim Across America donated $300,000 this year to Dana Farber.

“Without all the swimming I do each week, the swim at Nantasket would be very, very difficult,” she says.

Saint Aubin says she enjoys “everything” about swimming.

“So much so that when I go on vacation I have to find a pool to swim in,” she says, explaining, “While in the water it makes me feel very young — to me, anyway, it feels no different than when I was 12.”

“I love the camaraderie of swimmers when either practicing or competing and I love that this is a sport I hope to do well into my elderly years,” she adds. “In fact, at Nationals, not only are the young competitors like Cullen Jones (present Olympic swimmer) spectacular to watch — he was there both this year and in 2010 competing — but so are swimmers like Anne Dunivin who, at 95, upon completing the 200 backstroke the whole arena at Nationals went wild with excitement. It’s a great sport!”